Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsachic’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsachic’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; intense red-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zalsachic’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zalsachic’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Alstroemeria cultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive foliage and flower coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands in May, 2000, of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 98426-2, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 98557-3, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Zalsachic was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands in June, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria by root divisions in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since September, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Zalsachic has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsachic’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zalsachic’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Intense red-colored flowers.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the parent selections. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the parent selections primarily in flower color and stem length.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsacrea, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,041. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the cultivar Zalsacrea primarily in flower color as plants of the cultivar Zalsacrea had a yellow-colored band on the inner lateral segments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Zalsachic’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were about one year-old. The photograph and the description were taken in the spring. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsachic. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 98426-2, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 98557-3, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 60 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; close to 155D, in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 cm to 10 cm. Texture: Smooth.             Color: Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance.             Vigorous growth habit.         -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90             days.         -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 200 to             240.         -   Plant height.—About 100 cm to 140 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm to 30 cm. -   Flowering stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Length.—About 1.25 meters.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm to 12 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.5 cm to 5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Appearance.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile.         -   Length.—About 15.5 cm to 22 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.8 cm to 4.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire; slightly undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed foliage, upper             surface: Close to 147A; venation, similar to lamina.             Developing and fully developed foliage, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, similar to lamina. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels. Flowers face mostly outwardly. Perianth             segments separate. Freely and continuously flowering.             Flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 12 to 16 days.         -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 4 cm to 4.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:             Close to 60A.         -   Umbel height.—About 15 cm to 18 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 17 cm to 20 cm.         -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 15 to 40.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 5.5 cm to 6.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, outer             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 5.4 cm to 5.8 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 2.9 cm to 3.3 cm. Length,             median segment: About 5.5 cm to 6.5 cm. Width, median             segment: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Size, inner perianth: Length,             lateral segments: About 6.5 cm to 7 cm. Width, lateral             segments: About 1.2 cm to 1.7 cm. Length, median segment:             About 5 cm to 5.5 cm. Width, median segment: About 1.5 cm to             2 cm. Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median segments:             Obovate. Shape, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:             Oblanceolate. Apex, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Embedded pointed. Apex, inner perianth, lateral             and median segments: Acute. Base, outer and inner perianths,             lateral and median segments: Attenuate. Margin, outer and             inner perianths, lateral and median segments: Entire; weakly             undulate. Texture, outer and inner perianths, lateral and             median segments: Smooth, glabrous. Color, outer perianth:             When opening and fully opened, lateral and median segments,             upper surface: Close to 45B; apex, greenish overtones. When             opening and fully opened, lateral and median segments, lower             surface: Close to 45B; apex and venation, greenish             overtones. Color, inner perianth: When opening and fully             opened, lateral and median segments, upper surface: Close to             45B; stripes, close to 59A. When opening and fully opened,             lateral and median segments, lower surface: Close to 45B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm to 15 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to about 20° C. from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Filament length: About 4.1 cm. Filament color: Close to 47A.             Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther             diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 183A. Pollen             amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 202B. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 4 cm to             4.5 cm. Style color: Close to 47A. Stigma color: Close to             47A. Ovary color: Close to 146A.         -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsachic’ as illustrated and described. 